Levels of physical activity in England have reached a new record, with over 30 million adults now meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, according to the latest Active Lives survey. The 10th edition of the report shows a striking 10.9% increase in activity among the over-75s over the past decade, alongside a 7% rise among 55 to 74-year-olds.
However, the survey also reveals persistent inequalities. Activity levels among black and Asian adults (excluding Chinese) have remained unchanged at 57% and 56% respectively over ten years, while only 53.8% of the least affluent adults now hit the target, down from 54.8% a decade ago. Regional disparities continue, with the West Midlands the least active region, recording just 1.7% growth compared to 3.5% in the south-west.
Overall, there are 3.3 million more regularly active adults than when the survey began, with an additional 859,000 joining in the last year – the biggest annual rise since 2021-22. Changing habits have contributed, with 1.3 million more people walking for leisure than before the pandemic, and a record 15.3 million engaging in fitness activities such as gym sessions and exercise classes.
Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, said: “It’s great to see continued growth in the number of people taking part in physical activity... But today’s report also shows this progress is still not being felt equally.” Nick Pontefract, chief strategy officer, added that the nation is “increasingly aware of the huge benefits that being active brings”.
